J. Herbert Burke was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 14, 1913. He attended Northwestern University and earned a law
degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1940. He served in the Army during World War II, from 1942 to 1945, and received
the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals. He was discharged at the rank of captain and returned to Chicago to practice law
for four years. Burke moved to Hollywood, Florida in 1949. In 1952, he was elected to the Broward County Commission, and went
on to serve four terms.
In 1955 he was defeated in a campaign for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1966, he was elected to his first
term in the House. Burke served on the House Committee on International Relations, the Committee on House Administration,
and the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. In 1975, he was a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations.
In 1978, after 11 years in the House, Burke lost his reelection bid a few months after he was arrested for public drunkenness
and disorderly conduct in the parking lot of a nightclub in Dania, FL. Following his defeat, he retired to Falls Church, Virginia,
and Fern Park, Florida. He died on June 16, 1993.
Correspondence, biographical information, press releases, speeches, campaign materials, legislative papers, and photographs
of Representative J. Herbert Burke of Florida. The Burke Papers, spanning 1966-1996, document his activities as a legislator
in the U.S. House, including his campaign efforts, his committee service, and the management of his office. Unlike most political
collections, the Burke Papers contain a very small amount of correspondence and materials pertaining to legislation. The collection
does include a number of Burke's newsletters, covering his congressional activities, as well as his voting and attendance
records. The speeches and campaign files document his views on a variety of political issues during his tenure in the House.
The majority of the photographs in the collection were taken by congressional photographers, although there are a few personal
photographs. The photos primarily show Burke meeting with other politicians, members of the Florida delegation, foreign dignitaries,
and various people and groups from Florida. There are several photos taken during committee trips and hearings, both in the
U.S. and in foreign countries.
The collection also includes a small group of the papers and writings of Lois Blackburn, Burke's administrative assistant.
The majority of these papers were written in the 1990s, around the time of Burke's death. These materials (Box 14) currently
are closed to public access due to privacy concerns.
The J. Herbert Burke Papers are open for research with one exception: The papers of Lois Blackburn (Box 14) are closed due
to privacy concerns. Researchers seeking access to these materials should consult with the curator of the PK Yonge Library
of Florida History or the head of the Manuscripts and Archives unit.
[Identification of item], J. Herbert Burke Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
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Photographs
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Box 11 |
Broward Minutemen at Capitol.
1976 March 4
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Burke and International Relations Committee
with Moshe Dayan. 1978 February 16
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Burke and others with Asian group.
Not dated
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Burke as parade grand marshal.
1976 May 1
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Burke at 90th Division Army Honor Plaque
Ceremony. 1976 May 18
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Burke at an international meeting (United
Nations?), possibly in London. Not dated
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Burke at breakfast with Secretary of State
Cyrus Vance and Richard Holbrooke. 1978 August 1
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Burke at Centennial Safe Opening.
1976 July 5
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Burke at Foreign Affairs Committee.
Not dated
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Burke at International Relations study mission
to the Middle East. 1978 January 17
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Burke at luncheon at ROB.
1975 June 11
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Burke at reception by Subcommittee on Africa in
honor of Ambassador of Somalia. 1974 January 29
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Burke at swearing in at United Nations.
1975 August 22
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Burke at US-ASEAN ministerial meeting.
1978 August 3
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Burke at Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Not dated
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Burke being sworn in by Carl Albert and Hale
Boggs. Not dated
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Burke headshots. 1977
November 9
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Burke headshots and posing in office.
1974-1976
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Burke in China. 1978
July, and not dated
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Burke in front of bookcase.
1976 August
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Burke in Hawaii. 1976
May
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Burke in his office with Disabled American
Veterans members. 1973 April
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Burke in Peru on South America trip.
1977 August
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Burke on banks of Jordan River.
1978 January 10
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Burke on Capitol steps.
1976 August
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Burke on Capitol steps with American-Israeli
Public Affairs Comm. 1975 April 9
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Burke on Capitol steps with Bomzer family.
1978 April 18
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Burke on Capitol steps with Dade Christian
School. 1977 May 25
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Burke on Capitol steps with Driftwood Middle
School (Hollywood). 1978 April 20
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Burke on Capitol steps with miscellaneous
school groups.
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Burke on Capital steps with Perry Middle School
(Miramar). 1978 April 20
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Burke on Capitol steps with Pine Crest School.
1977 March 8
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Burke on Capitol steps with Pines Middle
School. 1977 May 19
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Burke on Capitol steps with Plantation Middle
School. 1975 April 30
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Burke on Capitol steps with various school
groups.
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Burke on Capitol steps with William Call.
1975 July 29
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Burke on International Relations Comm. Study
mission to Middle East. 1978 January
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Burke posing in front of Capitol.
1974 April 10
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Burke posing in front of Capitol -
transparencies and slides. Not dated
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Burke posing with daughter Kelly on Capitol
steps and at various locations in D.C. 1966
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Burke receiving American Conservative Union
statesman award. 1977 May
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Burke receiving "Coalition for Peace Through
Strength" plaque from John M. Fisher and John Singlaub. 1978 August
8
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Burke receiving "Guardian of Small Business"
award from Fred Williford of NFIB. Not dated
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Burke receiving questionnaires at his desk.
Not dated
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Burke receiving Watchdog of Treasury Award.
1976 September
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Box 12 |
Burke speaking at Fort Lauderdale Chamber Rally
(includes Lawton Chiles and others). Not dated
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Burke speaking at podium on 4th of July.
1968 July 4
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Burke studio portrait by Harris and Ewing.
1973
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Burke touring Bendix Corp. plant in Ft.
Lauderdale. 1978 March 27
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Burke with Ambassador John N. Irwin II in
Paris. 1974 May
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Burke with AMVETS Citation.
Not dated
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Burke with Anthony Adolino.
1978 May 3
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Burke with Anwar Sadat.
1978 September 19
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Burke with Anwar Sadat.
1975 June 21
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Burke with Anwar Sadat.
1977 April 5
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Burke with Ben Gilman (NY).
1978 January
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Burke with Beverly Yourman.
1973 December 13
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Burke with Bill Duke. Not
dated
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Burke with Bob Danner and Dick Ringold.
1976 May 18
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Burke with Bob Hope. 1978
May 25
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Burke with Bob Kramer, Cherie Ide, Betty
McKeigh and Carol Dexter in district office. 1978 March
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Burke with Broward County Commissioners.
Not dated
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Burke with Carl Albert, William McKelvy and
Rabbi and Mrs. David Shapiro. 1975 May 13
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Burke with Christopher Dodd at Jerusalem
Hilton. 1978 January 17
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Burke with Claude Pepper and others.
1976
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Burke with Code of Federal Regulations as they
appeared in 1938, 1958 and 1978. 1978 July
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Burke with Congressmen Rosenthal, Zablocki and
Addabbo. 1977 August
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Burke with Cyrus Vance, Secretary of State.
1977 February 10
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Burke with Debra Ploch, Maid of Cotton.
Not dated
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Burke with Diane Gregory.
Not dated
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Burke with Diane Gregory and Charlene Kaynor.
1972
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Burke with Diane Morse.
1978 May 3
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Burke with Dr. Garrett FitzGerald, Irish
Foreign Minister. 1977 March 17
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Burke with Dr. John D. Chase, US Veterans
Administration. Not dated
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Burke with Dr. Saltzman and family.
Not dated
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Burke with E. de la Garza (Texas) and Takeo
Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan. 1978 May 2
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Burke with Family. Not
dated
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Burke with Florida Associated Builders and
Contractors. 1977 April 5
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Burke with Florida Association of Life
Underwriters. 1977 March 9
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Burke with Francois Xavier Ortoli, President of
the European Communities. 1974 March 19
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Burke with Fred W. Sonnenberg, Paul J. Yohman,
Donald K. Kusiak and Mike Walker discussing veterans issues. 1978 March
6
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Burke with Golda Meir.
Not dated
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Burke with H.E. Takeo Fukuda, Prime Minister of
Japan. 1977 March 21
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Burke with Habib Bourguiba, President of
Tunisia, in Tunisia. 1978 January 3
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Burke with Hollywood Mayor David Keating and
H.R. Crawford, Asst. Secty of HUD (re: Crystal Lake Garden Housing). 1975 March
20
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Burke with Irish Prime Minister John M. Lynch
and the International Relations Committee. 1978 January 19
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Burke with Israeli Chief of Staff Mordechai
Gur. 1975 April 4
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Burke with Jim Forrestal (or Foristel).
1973 March
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Burke with John B. Martin.
Not dated
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Burke with John Byrne, Bill Maillard, and Frank
Bow. 1972
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Burke with John Rhodes.
1976 August 4
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Burke with John Wolfe, Secretary DOT.
Not dated
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Burke with King Hussein of Jordan.
1974 March 13 and Not dated
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Burke with King Hussein of Jordan.
1978 January 10
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Burke with Lester Wolff and Menachem Begin.
1978 March 21
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Burke with Liberty Bell.
1976 May 11
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Burke with Mayor Weinkle and J.W. Moffitt, Jr.
Not dated
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Burke with McGovern, Percy, Glenn, Javits and
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. 1977 March 8
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Burke with Menachem Begin.
1977 July 20
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Burke with Menachem Begin.
1978 September 19
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Burke with Moyshe Dayan.
1977 September 20
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Burke with National Association of Retired
Federal Employees award (NARFE). Not dated
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Burke with Olusegun Obasanjo, Lester Wolff,
Clement Zablocki, Maj. General Martin and Tennyson Guyer. 1977 October
12
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Burke with others at a fundraiser at the
Capitol Hill Club. 1978 February 15
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Burke with Paul Rogers, Joe Nells, Lester Wolff
at South Florida Narcotics hearing. 1978 June
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Burke with Pearl Bailey, United Nations.
1975 November 19
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Burke with President Gerald Ford at White
House. 1974 August
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Burke with President Gerald Ford and girls.
Not dated
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Burke with President Gerald Ford.
1975 January
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Box 13 |
Burke with President Jimmy Carter.
1977 July 28
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Burke with President Jimmy Carter and Clement
Zablocki. 1976 November 23
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Burke with President Lamizana.
1973
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Burke with Prime Minister James Callaghan of
Britain. 1977 March 10
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Burke with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada.
1977 February 22
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Burke with Prince Al-Saud.
1977 May 25
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Burke with Robert M. Ball, Social Security
Commissioner. 1970 September 23
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Burke with Richard Roudebush, Veterans Affairs.
Not dated
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Burke with Robert Sikes and Mrs. Sikes.
Not dated
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Burke with Robert White and Robert Zippin.
1978 March 21
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Burke with Ronald Reagan.
Not dated
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Burke with Sayed Marei, Speaker of the People's
Assembly of Egypt. 1978 June 20
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Burke with Shirley N. Pettis (Calif.).
1977 July 20
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Burke with Simcha Dinitz, Israeli Ambassador.
1977 September 20
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Burke with Spiro T. Agnew.
Not dated
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Burke with staff.
1973
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Burke with students from Orange Brook
Elementary. 1978 May 3
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Burke with students on Capitol steps.
Not dated
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Burke with summer intern, Pari Forood.
1978 July
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Burke with Teng Hsiao-ping, Senior Vice Premier
of China. 1978 July
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Burke with Tip O'Neill.
1977 July 20
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Burke with Tip O'Neill, Jim Wright and Rabbi
Moshe E. Bomzer and family. 1978 April 18
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Burke with wife, Evelyn, and daughter, Kelly.
Not dated
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Burke with William Simon, Federal Energy
Administrator. 1974 March 15
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Burke with Yigal Allon.
1977 October 18
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Burke with Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister of
Israel. 1977 March 8
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Campaign trailer with signs.
1972
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Card showing Burke in front of Capitol.
Not dated
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Davie Fire Station. Not
dated
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District office staff at West Lake.
1978 March 31
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Family members.
1978
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Florida delegation and veterans groups.
Not dated
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Florida delegation with Florida Bankers
Association. 1976 February 10
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Ford, Gerald - signing Public Safety Officers
Benefit Act. 1976 September 29
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Ford, Gerald - taken during Ford's visit with
Pres. Sadat and Burke to Jacksonville. 1975 November 2
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Fort Lauderdale Federal Building.
Not dated
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Fundraiser - Committee to Re-Elect J.H. Burke.
1978 February 15
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Holland, Spessard. Not
dated
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Legionnaire luncheon with Florida delegation.
1975 March 4
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Mayor Beam in New York City.
1977 May 21
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Miscellaneous unidentified photos.
Not dated
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Negatives of Congressional photos.
1973
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Negatives of Congressional photos.
1976-1977
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Photocopies of photos of Burke playing football
as a young man. Not dated
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Plaques, awards and framed items belonging to
Burke (photos of). Not dated
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POWs (Prisoners of War).
Not dated
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Sadat, Anwar - with International Relations
Committee study mission to Middle East. 1978 January 7
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Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control
hearings in Hawaii. 1978 June 30
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Travel photos.
1977-1982
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Washington office staff.
1977 December
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